1 NOW it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace;
6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.
8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
20 And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
22 For he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.

1Now it came to passe in the dayes of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned from India, euen vnto Ethiopia, ouer an hundred, and seuen and twentie prouinces.)

2That in those dayes, when the King Ahasuerus sate on the throne of his kingdome, which was in Shushan the palace:

3In the third yeere of his reigne, he made a feast vnto all his Princes, and his seruants, the power of Persia and Media, the Nobles and Princes of the prouinces being before him.

4When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdome, and the honour of his excellent maiestie, many dayes, euen an hundred and fourescore dayes.

5And when these dayes were expired, the king made a feast vnto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both vnto great and small, seuen dayes, in the court of the garden of the kings palace,

6Where were white, greene and blew hangings, fastened with cords of fine linnen, and purple, to siluer rings, and pillers of marble: the beds were of gold and siluer, vpon a pauement of red, and blewe, and white, and blacke marble.

7And they gaue them drinke in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diuers one from another) and royall wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.

8And the drinking was according to the law, none did compell: for the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should doe according to euery mans pleasure.

9Also Uasthi the Queene made a feast for the women, in the royall house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

10 On the seuenth day, when the heart of the King was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seuen chamberlens that serued in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

11To bring Uasthi the Queene before the king, with the Crowne royall, to shew the people, and the Princes her beautie: for she was faire to looke on.

12But the Queene Uasthi refused to come at the Kings commandement by his chamberlens: therefore was the King very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

13 Then the king saide to the wise men, which knew the times (for so was the Kings maner towards all that knew law, and iudgement:

14And the next vnto him, was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshis, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seuen Princes of Persia, and Media, which saw the Kings face, and which sate the first in the kingdome.)

15What shall wee doe vnto the Queene Uasthi, according to law, because she hath not performed the commandement of the king Ahasuerus, by the chamberlens?

16And Memucan answered before the king and the Princes; Uasthi the Queene hath not done wrong to the king onely, but also to all the Princes, and to all the people that are in all the prouinces of the king Ahasuerus.

17For this deed of the queene shall come abroad vnto all women, so that they shal despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall bee reported; The king Ahasuerus commanded Uasthi the queene to be brought in before him, but she came not.

18Likewise shall the Ladies of Persia and Media say this day vnto all the kings princes, which haue heard of the deed of the Queene. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.

19If it please the king, let there go a royall commandement from him, and let it bee written among the lawes of the Persians, and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Uasthi come no more before king Ahasuerus, and let the king giue her royall estate vnto another that is better then she.

20And when the kings decree, which he shal make, shalbe published throughout all his empire, (for it is great:) all the wiues shall giue to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

21And the saying pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

22For he sent letters into all the kings prouinces, into euery prouince, according to the writing thereof, and to euery people after their language, that euery man should beare rule in his owne house, and that it should be published according to the language of euerie people.

I == Ezra 4:6 ; Esth 8:9 ; Dan 6:1 ; 9:1

 

II == 1st Kings 1:46 ; Neh 1:1

 

III == Gen 40:20 ; Esth 2:18 ; Mark 6:21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI == Esth 7:8 ; Ezek 23:41 ; Amos 2:8 ; 6:4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X == 2nd Sam 13:28 ; Esth 7:9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIII == 1st Chr 12:32 ; Jer 10:7 ; Dan 2:12 ; Matt 2:1

 

XIV == 2nd Kings 25:19 ; Ezra 7:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVII == Eph 5:33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIX == Esth 8:8 ; Dan 6:8 , 12< 15

 

 

 

 

XX == Eph 5:33 ; Col 3:18 ; 1st Peter 3:1

 

 

 

 

XXII == Esth 8:9 ; Eph 5:22-24 ' 1st Tim 2:12

 

 

1 During the reign of Ahasuerus-this was the Ahasuerus who ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia-

2 while he was occupying the royal throne in the stronghold of Susa,

3 in the third year of his reign, he presided over a feast for all his officers and ministers: the Persian and Median aristocracy, the nobles, and the governors of the provinces.

4 For as many as a hundred and eighty days, he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the resplendent wealth of his royal estate.

5 At the end of this time the king gave a feast of seven days in the garden court of the royal palace for all the people, great and small, who were in the stronghold of Susa.

6 There were white cotton draperies and violet hangings, held by cords of crimson byssus from silver rings on marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were on the pavement, which was of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored stones.

7 Liquor was served in a variety of golden cups, and the royal wine flowed freely, as befitted the king's munificence.

8 By ordinance of the king the drinking was unstinted, for he had instructed all the stewards of his household to comply with the good pleasure of everyone.

9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women inside the royal palace of King Ahasuerus.

10 On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he instructed Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who attended King Ahasuerus,

11 to bring Queen Vashti into his presence wearing the royal crown, that he might display her beauty to the populace and the officials, for she was lovely to behold.

12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the royal order issued through the eunuchs. At this the king's wrath flared up, and he burned with fury.

13 He conferred with the wise men versed in the law, because the king's business was conducted in general consultation with lawyers and jurists.

14 He summoned Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven Persian and Median officials who were in the king's personal service and held first rank in the realm,

15 and asked them, "What is to be done by law with Queen Vashti for disobeying the order of King Ahasuerus issued through the eunuchs?"

16 In the presence of the king and of the officials, Memucan answered: "Queen Vashti has not wronged the king alone, but all the officials and the populace throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

17 For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women, and they will look with disdain upon their husbands when it is reported, "King Ahasuerus commanded that Queen Vashti be ushered into his presence, but she would not come.'

18 This very day the Persian and Median ladies who hear of the queen's conduct will rebel against all the royal officials, with corresponding disdain and rancor.

19 If it please the king, let an irrevocable royal decree be issued by him and inscribed among the laws of the Persians and Medes, forbidding Vashti to come into the presence of King Ahasuerus and authorizing the king to give her royal dignity to one more worthy than she.

20 Thus, when the decree which the king will issue is published throughout his realm, vast as it is, all wives will honor their husbands, from the greatest to the least."

21 This proposal found acceptance with the king and the officials, and the king acted on the advice of Memucan.

22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, to the effect that every man should be lord in his own home.

Book of Esther is named after its Jewish heroine. It tells the story of the plot of Haman the Agagite, jealous and powerful vizier of King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) of Persia (485-464 B.C.), to destroy in a single day all the Jews living in the Persian Empire.

 

The 70 year captivity is considered roughly from 605-535 BC, but the return under Zerubbabel was 538. In 515 the Temple was finished; 483 Vashti deposed; 478 Esther crowned; 473 Feast of Purim; 457 2nd return under Ezra; 444 Nehemiah comes,

We don’t know the writer of this book or the date, but it was obviously the Author was an eye witness to some of the events. The people who had returned to Judah were not living according to the Law, and God was not blessing them. It was probably written in Judah to assure those people that God was still caring for His people, even those who were disobedient by not returning to Israel. God is not mentioned in this book by name, but His provision is evident. The account here is not referred to in other Scripture or secular writing, but the facts concerning the king and his kingdom are well established.

v 1-4. Ahasuerus is actually Xerxes, who was weak, easily influenced and ruled by passion. His 127 provinces ranged from present Pakistan to much of northern Africa, and included Judah. He ruled from Shushan, and the third year of his reign was 483 BC. This feast was for all his administrative leaders in preparation for a military campaign against Greece to avenge his father’s defeat. He lost 200 ships and many men, as God was preparing for Greece to dominate. The 180 days were in planning, preparation, and impressing these assistants, but not all present at once. A total of four years preparing to send 200,000,000 men and hundreds of ships to battle.

v 5-9. That big feast was capped off by a seven day feast for all rich and poor of Shushan who cared to come. The furnishings and vessels of these tents in the court garden were elaborate. No wonder some Jews were content to live there. People were welcome to drink or not as they chose It was not unusual for the women to have a banquet at the same time as the men. There was no mixed drinking or dancing.

v 10-12. The feast had turned into a drunken party and the kings seven eunuchs were commanded to bring his beautiful queen to exhibit before the males. She may have been pregnant with Artaxerxes, or for modesty refused to parade before the drunken men. The “happy drunk” king turned to mean drunk when he was disobeyed.

v 13-15. He conferred with his seven wise men, who were well versed in the law, as to what should be done when the queen disobeyed him.

v 16-22. The consensus was that if this went unpunished, not only wives of the nobility, v 18, but all women throughout the kingdom would disrespect their husbands, a national insult. The queen should be deposed and one more worthy appointed to take her place. The laws of the Medes and Persians could not be changed (compare Dan. 6:8), and with this law, all women would be compelled to honor their husbands. We notice, v 19, they said, “if it please the king”, and v 21, it pleased the king. Following their advice, he sent letters of this announcement to all of his 127 provinces and in their own language. It can be said she was removed by man’s pride, but by God’s provision.  For men bearing rule over their wives, v 22, compare Gen. 3:16 and 1 Tim. 3:4.